Category: Interviews

I had been staring at a blank page (on my screen) for a few days now, trying to figure out the best way to communicate not just an amazing story, but also the actual amazement I felt while listening to it.

Perhaps one of the most cheerful and resilient people I have spoken to so far, Mr. Ashis Mohanty is a very good example of how you change your life when you find a higher calling. Read on to know more about his journey.

My next interview got scheduled as I browsed Linkedin. Devang Sharma, one of my batchmates from NMIMS, had a very interesting post about how his company had managed to achieve a record high in sales on Myntra. At first I thought this was some place he worked, but on scouting further, it was a company he had co-founded not too long ago – I just had to speak with him.

My next interview was certainly an eye opener. Before I begin articulating the same, I must warn you of the following: firstly, this article is on the lengthier side, as it would be unfair to ‘edit’ the learning I received; and second, read this only if you are willing to ask yourself the tough questions that every entrepreneur is faced with at some point in their journey.

In retrospect, I should have probably written a few more articles before approaching my next entrepreneur, so that I could at least have a chance to impress him with a body of work. Wondering why? Read on to find out!

ShaadiMagic.com has a network of over 1.75 lakh vendors of wedding related goods and services all across India. When I spoke to Mr. Manish Grover, the co-founder, I had referred to his venture like the ‘Google search of Wedding services in India’. Read his story and tell me if you agree.

Somewhere along your journey towards any goal, entrepreneurial or otherwise, you would come across the tough decision where you have to decide whether or not to stay on your current path. We may plan for it, and create scenarios in our minds, however, I don’t feel anything can really prepare us for the emotions that are involved when your heart and mind say two different things.

My next interview was with an individual who I feel has faced this tough decision not once, but twice in his journey.

Before I started this blog, I wanted to check if there was a potential for finding enough content. Learning from a mistake I had made in the past – The phrase ‘if you build it, they will come’ was something I had once taken too literally, and had suffered the consequences.

This time, I decided to let one of Steve Jobs’ phrases guide my actions – ‘most people don’t pick up the phone and call anymore’. I decided to do just that.

In all probability, the reason you reached this particular page directly was that I reached out to you on social media and asked you to take a few minutes to read this.

I am thankful to you that you took the time to do so. In a few paragraphs, I would like to explain to you what I hope to achieve.

I started this blog while on my own entrepreneurial journey. A day had come while working on something, that I was in desperate need of motivation to keep going. I would read about other entrepreneurs and learn from their stories. What I learnt while doing so, is that while success stories were inspiring, they aren’t always easy to relate to. Especially for early stage entrepreneurs or even those who are in the ‘ideation’ stage.

What helped (or at least what helped me) was knowing more about the early years of the entrepreneur. I have a few friends who have their own ventures, and I have had the privilege of knowing their stories. Their life before their ventures took shape and the sacrifices they made to do so. The reasons behind their actions and how they took the plunge. The difference between corporate life and the that of a founder. Eureka moments, first offices and clients – or just the stories of the struggle to achieve them. In short, the story of the hustle.

I wish to share the stories from your early days as an entrepreneurs with others like me who may feel inspired by them to move forward.

Please feel free to reach out to me at on Linkedin and let’s schedule a chat soon!